After a five-year hiatus, the singer returns with something remarkably fresh and nostalgic.
For a select few, Roy Blair has been the underrated of the truly underrated since 2017, soundtracking the dying breed of Tumblr users’ feeds and blessing “soft boy” Soundcloud mixes with “Thunder.” 2017 marked a major point for the LA-based singer, with his career blowing up amongst the Brockhampton and Flowerboy crowds with his debut project Cat Heaven; charming fans with his approach to crafting alternative pop music hooks. His artistry in producing would only evolve with the GRAFFITI mixtape two years later. But while “FANTAZIA” was making the rounds on S.O.T.Y lists, Blair would suddenly vanish, without a trace.
That would change with a tweet in September announcing a new song and a brand new album. “Panavision” is the first track from the alt-pop singer in five years and is a triumphant return to the genre for Blair.
Within this hiatus, Blair has spent the last few years away from the spotlight and indulging in his early 20s, mostly by traveling. Blair left the public eye with only three tracks, each showcasing his enriched, melancholic lyricism drenched with some incredible electronic production, and “Panavision” demonstrates that Blair only moved deeper in that direction. Opening with loose lines detailing his absence, “I went and signed my first album away and I had no idea,” he really details mistakes he made solely by being so fresh on such a large platform. He laments further “Who got my back at all, if there ain't no money involved,” but as he continues deeper, the beat breaks in and the track explodes.
From the incorporation of the saxophones in the instrumental, the beaming choruses, and reflective lyrics, the track unveils a bright new Roy Blair. One that may be hardened and more mature, but one that never really left.
Connect with Roy Blair here:
